The Golden Rules of Dog Training

Dog training is an art man has been trying to perfect since the domestication of canines. There are almost as many theories on dog training as there are on raising children. Many of these theories are effective and having multiple options allows you to tailor your training to your dog. No two dogs are exactly the same, which means every training experience will be different. There are some constants in dog training. What follows are five fundamentals to keep in mind with every dog, every training session.

Have Fun- If you're like many of us, the moment you see your new puppy or dog is the moment you start imagining all the pheasants he's going to bring in, the championships she's going to win and generally the finely trained specimen you expect him/her to be. Slow down. You have a new dog, a new hunting partner and a new member of the family. This should be fun for both of you. Keep training sessions short and sweet, and have fun. If you've ever had the chance to attend a seminar by Tom Dokken, you'll know he finishes every session with a retriever by letting them do a few fun retrieves. That's what all this is about. Hunting is fun, training should be, too. A dog that's happy to be learning will be happy in the field.

Remember Training Goes Both Ways- The term trainer suggests that your only role in this situation is to teach. This isn't the case. When training your dog, there are also numerous things you need to practise and demand of yourself. Train yourself to remain calm, no matter how frustrating a training situation may be. Your dog will have good days and bad days, but never take your frustration out on your dog. This will significantly impede your training. If you need to cut a training session short, or simply walk away, then do so. Additionally, train yourself to make a point of going out with your dog. A 10-15 minute training session isn't too difficult to incorporate into a day, especially if you make it a routine. If you want your dog to be committed to the field, you need to be committed to the training.

If You Can't Reinforce It, Don't Teach It- Remember that your dog learns more than what you intend to teach him. If you give a command when you have no way to reinforce it and he ignores you, he's learnt that when he needs to listen is conditional. Obviously, this revelation is difficult to unlearn, so make sure if you want your dog's attention and adherence, you have a way to get it.

Be Consistent- Consistency is key. Remember that training is teaching you and your dog how to communicate. The expectations should be clear and concrete. If your dog has to guess what outcome you want, you are both set up for failure. Try to make sure your dog knows when it's time to train by training at around the same time every day, using the same equipment and following the same basic structure.

Don't Give Up- You are going to make mistakes. Your dog is going to make mistakes. This is the nature of training and humanity in general. Don't throw your hands in the air and give up just because things are going wrong. Take time to assess the missteps of both you and your dog and learn how to correct these in the future. The tough phases will pass and you and your dog will have better communication because of them.

Keep these golden rules in mind to help you and your dog get the most out of your training experience.

Good luck and happy training!